That morning the whole Hero's party departed. As we traveled out of the village, I sped up to match Wilharrow's pace.
"Hey, I've got something for you." [Solace]
"Me?" [Wilharrow]
I pulled out the doll Elisse gave me last night.
"A little girl mistook me for the Hero. Which is, of course, you. She wanted me to bring this doll on our journey to see the world or something." [Solace]
Wilharrow laughed.
"Seriously? Wait, when did you have time to go outside? Weren't you asleep?" [Wilharrow]
How was I going to get around this question? I can't just tell him I don't sleep.
"I felt like going on a nightly stroll." [Solace]
"Uh-huh…" [Wilharrow]
I offered him the doll, but he pushed it away.
"Keep it." [Wilharrow]
"...Why? You're the hero." [Solace]
Wilharrow smiled.
"I may be the hero of Metus, but you're the only hero for that girl. Besides, you're the one who accepted the doll. I didn't even get a say in it." [Wilharrow]
"That… is strangely smart of you to say." [Solace]
"I was always this smart." [Wilharrow]
We continued walking for… maybe thirty minutes to an hour. By then, we spotted a long stone bridge built over a raging river.
("The water looks so… dirty.") [Solace]
I expected rivers to be clear and stuff like those survival videos of people finding drinking water. Instead, I'm looking at some dark brownish, maybe yellowish water.
"Watch your step guys. You don't want to slip." [Wilharrow]
The entire bridge was wet. It was wide enough to have plenty of space to walk, and there were stone walls that acted as railings. I think the main reason why Wilharrow warned us was due to how smooth each stone was from water erosion.
"Wow. The Topaz River is much fiercer than the books say." [Raon]
He leaned over the stone railings to get a better look. I also joined him, which made me realize that the bridge wasn't that high.
"Careful. We wouldn't want to lose a new member already." [Wilharrow]
"I'm being careful." [Raon]
We decided to stop sightseeing and cross the bridge. However, we started to hear something strange mid-way.
"Hey, you hear that?" [Solace]
"Hear what?" [Raon]
It sounded like something cutting through the air.
"I see something!" [Fina]
She pointed upwards.
"...What is that?" [Wilharrow]
We saw a dark figure flying towards us. Or rather… plummeting.
("Is that… a person?") [Solace]
"It's coming right for us!" [Raon]
"Everyone, move!" [Wilharrow]
We all leapt back as the figure crashed into the bridge. Dust and stone fragments flew at us, forcing everyone other than me to cover their faces.
("It's nice having a pretty tough body.") [Solace]
The dust didn't even have a chance to settle. Red leathery wings stuck out of the cloud and blew it all away. Turns out, it was a guy who looked like the literal depiction of a demon.
"Who is the hero?!" [???]
Black horns, red skin, two big leathery wings, heavily armored with chainmail and plating, equipped with a large rectangular shield, and a mace. Other than the weird blue hair and eyes, I'd say this guy is standing on business.
"Who's asking?" [Wilharrow]
"I am the wandering demonic knight Zuyil of the land of Lithik. Upon hearing of the departure of the hero's party, I've come to stop you." [Zuyil]
Trouble found us quickly.
"How did you find out about the hero's departure?" [Wilharrow]
"The lord of Metus made a country wide announcement. It would be impossible to not hear of it." [Zuyil]
"Oh." [Wilharrow]
Would have been nice if the Lord didn't do that.
"Well, I think you've got the wrong guy. We're just travelers." [Wilharrow]
Smart move from Wilharrow. Is what I would say if the demon didn't point his mace at him.
"You lie. I can smell your god's magic on you." [Zuyil]
"...Worth a shot." [Wilharrow]
He then nodded at us.
"Formation guys!" [Wilharrow]
We immediately made ranks. Raon at the front, Wilharrow behind him, Fina in the middle, then Leon to protect me, and me in the back since I'm the mage.
"You do not have to do this. Simply turn back." [Zuyil]
"I can say the same to you." [Wilharrow]
Zuyil frowned, revealing sharp teeth behind his lips.
"...You chose this." [Zuyil]